United States
NUI Galway is one of Ireland's most popular universities amongst American students studying in Ireland. Whether you are looking for a short term study abroad experience, or you wish to study for a full undergraduate or graduate degree programme, you're sure to find the right programme for you here.
NUI Galway has long enjoyed a close relationship with the United States of America. American students have studied in Galway for many years, and many NUI Galway students have in turn studied at some of the leading US universities either as part of their degree, or as graduate students.
Spring Recruitment Week (Chicago and Boston)
We are delighted to announce that NUI Galway is taking part in the forthcoming Education in Ireland Spring Recruitment Week.
Saturday 6th April - Irish Universities Open House Event (Chicago)
Chicago Open House, April 2013 - All Welcome!
2-4.00pm
Doubletree Oak Brook Hotel
1909 Spring Road, Oak Brook, Illinois, 60523, USA
Sunday 7th April - Irish Universities Open House Event (Boston)
Boston Open House, April 2013 - All Welcome!
3-5.00pm
Boston College High School,
150 Morrisey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125
For more information, please contact
Brian Hussey
International Affairs Office
NUI Galway
e: brian.hussey@nuigalway.ie
t: +353 91 495358
Federal Aid (US Students)
NUI Galway is approved by the US government to certify financial aid under the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program. US citizens attending NUI Galway as full time degreeseeking students can arrange private or Federal Direct Loans to finance their education.
Students are responsible for ensuring that their loan application paperwork is received prior to the 1st of July for the subsequent September intake. Please consult the NUI Galway Federal Aid webpage as soon as you receive your Letter of Acceptance or download the Federal Aid Student Application Guide 2013-14.
The NUI Galway School Code for Federal Aid is G12766.
Further enquiries regarding US Federal Aid can be addressed to: Florinda.Green@nuigalway.ie
Study Abroad at NUI Galway
Our popular Study Abroad Programme offers undergraduate students at other universities throughout the world the opportunity to study at NUI Galway and earn credits towards their degree.
Semester One runs from September to December while Semester Two runs from January until May. As a visiting student, you can expect to take 5 - 7 classes per semester. This equates to approximately 30 ECTS credits, which is a normal course load for NUI Galway students per semester.
Visiting students are examined alongside our full time degree-seeking students. Most classes are examined by end of semester examination, however most also include mid-term assignments and/or continuous assessment. Upon completion of your studies, you will be sent a transcript showing the classes you have taken at NUI Galway as well the credits earned and marks (%) received.
We have many years’ experience in the matter of credit transfer and course equivalence and can, on request, provide a suggested system to translate from ECTS credits to the credit system used in your home country.
Please refer to the Study Abroad section of our website for further details.
Kelsey Donohue, Visiting Student, USA
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Hi! My name is Kelsey Donohue and I had the pleasure of studying at NUI Galway during my semester abroad in Ireland. As a Long Island native turned Hudson Valley resident at Marist College in New York, I was excited totravel and explore Ireland. Drawn by my family’s Irish roots, Ireland just seemed like a natural choice. When it came to deciding which university to attend, NUI Galway was exactly what I was looking for. I took a combination of Culture, History, English and Philosophy classes. My favorite class was by far Arts in Action which taught the evolution of Ireland’s traditional music through concerts and events taking place right on campus. It was something I would never experience at home!
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Undergraduate Study
We welcome applications from international students who wish to undertake their full undergraduate degree at NUI Galway.
We offer over degree programmes across the five colleges of the university. These include flexible ‘open’ degree programmes, that enable you to study different subjects before focusing on your main subject, as well as more specialised programmes.
Choosing your Programme
Undergraduate degree programmes at Irish universities are generally quite specialised from the first year of study. At NUI Galway, we offer various programmes in subjects ranging from History and Psychology to Accounting, Energy Systems and Biotechnology for students who wish to immerse themselves in a particular subject area from the beginning of their university studies.
However, we also offer a number of ‘open’ degree programmes (often referred to as Omnibus or Undenominated programmes) that allow students to study a variety of subjects within an overall area of study, before specialising in their second year.
Examples of such ‘open’ degree programmes include the Bachelor of Arts (Omnibus Entry), the Bachelor of Commerce, the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Engineering, which are ideally suited to students who know generally what area of study they wish focus us, but who may not yet know which subject(s) they wish to major in within that area of study.
Please refer to the Undergraduate Studies section of our website for further details.
Undergraduate Entry Requirements - United States
US Applicants are assessed based on their high school record and performance in standardised tests such as the SAT or ACT. Entry Requirements can vary depending on the programme applied for, however as a general guide US high school students should present a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a combined SAT score of 1700 in order to be considered for admission to most undergraduate degree programmes. In addition, preference is given to students presenting at least 2 AP subjects and/or SAT Subject Tests.
The NUI Galway CollegeBoard code is 5878.
The NUI Galway ACT Code is 5351.
For more information, please contact:
Brian Hussey
International Affairs Office
National University of Ireland, Galway
t: + 353 (0)91 495358
e: brian.hussey@nuigalway.ie
Siobhan Keenan, Undergraduate Arts Student, USA
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My name is Siobhan Keenan and I am from Midland Park, New Jersey, USA. Iam currently studying English and Psychological Studies in my second year at NUI Galway. I chose NUI Galway because I love Galway City and the school couldn’t be a better fit. My two subjects, English and Psychological Studies are the perfect fit for what I was looking for. I’ve come to Ireland ever since I was a child and I couldn’t be happier that I now get to live here year round in one of my favorite cities.
— Siobhan Keenan blog: International Student Blogs |
Siobhan Allaeddini, Business Student, USA
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Hello all aspiring scholars, my name is Siobhan Allaeddini and I am from Newport Beach, California. I am currently attending NUI Galway where I am studying Commerce and will be graduating in 2013. Often when people realize I am from a foreign destination I get asked the same question, “Why did you leave Orange County for Galway?” The answer is simple enough. The culture, lifestyle and education programs far exceed anything I felt I could have received at home. In most European universities, from the moment you begin your course you are studying what you wish to pursue your career in. No general education classes teaching you things you are genuinely not interested in. In essence, you get what you pay for and what you want. In addition to the straight-forward education system, Ireland and its people have a reputation for being THE friendliest and liveliest European country. Prior to my attending NUI Galway, I had been to Ireland several times between my Irish Dancing competitions and my mother visiting her immediate family members (she was born and raised in Kildare, Ireland). The culture and lifestyle were no surprise to me; however, I know for most other students it isn’t all that drastic either. That can be credited to the people and laidback atmosphere that encompasses all of Ireland. blog: International Student Blogs |
Graduate (Postgraduate) Studies
There are two types of graduate (postgraduate) degree programmes offered in Ireland
- Taught-based postgraduate programmes (Master’s). Taught Master’s programmes usually take 1 or 2 years to complete and consist mainly of classes, seminars and coursework, as well as minor research project and dissertation. Please refer to the postgraduate section of the website for a full list of programmes.
- Research-based programmes (Master’s or PhD). Research Master’s programmes normally take two years while PhD programmes normally last 4 years and involve working alone or as part of a small research group on a specified research project under faculty supervision. In addition, research students are increasingly required to take formal classes in research skills etc., alongside their research.
Please refer to the Postgraduate Studies section of the website for further information on how to apply.
Postgraduate Entry Requirements (North America)
Entry requirements for postgraduate taught and research programmes vary. Applicants should consult the Postgraduate Prospectus to find out the entry requirements for each programme.
Applicants are assessed based on their college record. Irish universities do not generally use standardised tests such as the GMAT, LSAT etc., for admission to graduate programmes.
Other factors such as the applicant's personal statement and references are also taken into account.
United States
As a general guide, US applicants holding a 4 year Bachelor degree with a relevant major with a GPA of 3.0-3.3 (B+) or greater will be considered for most postgraduate programmes at NUI Galway.
Applicants are also assessed based on their Personal Statement and/or Letters of Reference while certain programmes may also require a writing sample or portfolio of work.
Canada
As a general guide, Canadian applicants holding a 4 year Bachelor degree with a relevant major with a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 (B+ average) will be considered for most postgraduate programmes at NUI Galway. As GPA grading scales can vary from institution to institution in Canada, please contact the International Affairs Office by emailing international@nuigalway.ie for more information.
Applicants are also assessed based on their Personal Statement and/or Letters of Reference while certain programmes may also require a writing sample or portfolio of work.
Mohit Agrawal, Graduate Student, USA
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As a Master’s student in the Economic Policy Evaluation and Planning program at the JE Cairnes School, I was impressed by NUI Galway’s students, faculty, and facilities. The program size was small, allowing me to learn from and become friends with my fellow students in a collegial atmosphere. The faculty were fully dedicated to students, easy to talk to, and well-versed in their fields.
Meanwhile, the facilities at NUI Galway were top-notch, with great computer labs, libraries, and social spaces. Lastly, I enjoyed living in Galway, with its historic city center and scenic seaside promenade; Galway was a perfect launching pad for trips across Ireland and Europe.
During my time in Galway, I gained a unique understanding of economic policy in the context of Ireland and the Eurozone. I strongly encourage international students to consider study at NUI Galway.
— Mohit Agrawal, Graduate Student, USA Mohit Agrawal has been awarded one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world, a Rhodes Scholarship to study economics at Oxford University. Mohit will complete his MA in Economic Policy Evaluation and Planning at NUI Galway before commencing his studies at Oxford. |
The NUI Galway contacts for US student enquiries are:
Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Brian Hussey |
Visiting Students (Study Abroad)
Louise Coyle |
For further information about NUI Galway, please contact the International Affairs Office.
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International Affairs Office t: +353 (0)91 49 5277 Find us on the interactive campus map |
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